A LABOR leader in Negros Occidental will raise their concerns on higher inflation rate and effects of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Commission (RTWPB) in Western Visayas.
Wennie Sancho, labor representative to the RTWPB-Western Visayas, said the labor sector’s apprehensions on these issues will be brought up during the Board’s meeting in Iloilo City on Friday, February 14.
Sancho said the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) should put in place interventions in order to mitigate the impacts of higher prices of basic goods and services.
“Also, there should be safety nets to address the effects of coronavirus scare particularly in terms of employment,” he said, reiterating that the pressing health concern will certainly affect the labor, trade and industry.
In terms of inflation, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) earlier reported that the rate for Western Visayas for January 2020 is 3.2 percent.
The figure is one percent higher than 2.2 percent in December 2019.
The region’s inflation is also higher than the national headline inflation rate of 2.9 percent.
The upward movement is attributed to increases in the inflation of most commodity groups.
These include food and non-alcoholic beverages with inflation rising to 2.2 percent from 1.2 percent, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco, from 16.5 percent and 18.4 percent.
Other increases are in clothing and footwear - 2.9 percent to 3.1 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels - 1.6 percent to 4.2 percent; transportation - 1.6 percent to 2.7 percent; and recreation and culture - 2.0 percent to 2.1 percent.
For the nCoV issue, Sancho earlier said the banning of Chinese tourists from Macau, China and its administrative regions had already affected the local tourism industry.
As a result, tourist-related jobs were adversely affected such as tour guides and workers in the hotel and restaurant, he said, adding that tourist destination areas will slowdown in their operations and will be forced to downsize their personnel to prevent losses.
Amid these concerns, the labor sector believes that there’s a need for alternative livelihood programs.
Sancho said the government should have measures like this in the event many workers would lose their jobs.
The labor representative expressed hopes that the government and management would consider their suggestion.
“It is now time for the labor and management to cooperate because this problem affects everybody,” he added.